With star second baseman Robinson Cano in the fold after agreeing to a $240 million deal last week, the Seattle Mariners have executed their first two moves in an effort to build around him.

Longtime Brewers first baseman/outfielder Corey Hart agreed to a one-year deal earlier Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, that will allow him to try to rebuild his value—he missed all of last season recovering from multiple knee surgeries—before reentering the free-agent market next offseason.

Less than an hour later, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reported that the M's had acquired another first baseman/outfielder, Logan Morrison (pictured) of the Marlins, for hard-throwing reliever Carter Capps. The 26-year-old, who has also had knee troubles over the past two seasons, is expected to play left field.

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If it sounds familiar, that's because Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik also loaded up on similar players last offseason. Kendrys Morales and Michael Morse were added through trades, while Raul Ibañez was signed to a one-year free-agent deal. All three fit best in a designated-hitter role.

With first baseman Justin Smoak and a catcher, Jesus Montero, who was also a better fit as a designated hitter, already in the mix, manager Eric Wedge was left to figure out how to fit all of the imperfect parts into the defensive puzzle. Morales split his time between first base and designated hitter, while Ibañez and Morse were miscast in the Mariners outfield.

Now, barring another trade that would send Smoak or Morrison elsewhere, is new manager Lloyd McClendon headed for the same predicament? Not quite. But if they plan on adding another big bat, he very well could be. But it could be a very good problem to have if they can add another impact hitter to the middle of the lineup.

Adding Cruz (pictured) to man right field would likely create a competition for the center-field job between Dustin Ackley and Michael Saunders, although one could also be traded. Ackley, who finished the 2013 season with a .795 OPS over his last 61 games, has drawn interest from the Mets, Yankees and Padres, according to Heyman.

Saunders, who would be a terrific fourth outfielder, would also be popular on the trade market, giving the team at least two good young position players—second baseman Nick Franklin is likely available after the Cano signing—to offer in a trade.

As things stand, the Mariners could trot out a lineup that looks like this:

Even with the addition of Cano and possibly a hitter like Cruz, the Mariners, who signed an estimated $2 billion network deal with DirecTV back in April, could still have the ability to sign a big-name starter or acquire one and enter 2014 with a payroll under $100 million—they currently have less than $40 million committed in guaranteed contracts, according to Cot's Contracts.

It seems like ages since the team's 116-win season of 2001, the year of its last playoff appearance, which was followed by back-to-back 93-win seasons. In 10 seasons since, it has had a winning record twice while finishing last in the division seven times. Mariners fans should be excused if they're not believers quite yet.

But could 2014 be the year they turn things around?

If Ackley, Morrison and Smoak, all former top prospects, can have halfway-decent seasons, and Miller and Zunino can continue to develop, this group has the potential to be very good with Seager, Cano, Hart and potentially one other impact hitter forming the heart of the lineup.

Combine that with a starting rotation that includes ace Felix Hernandez, the very underrated Iwakuma and Walker, one of the top pitching prospects in the game, and the M's would appear to have a legitimate shot in the AL West.

At the least, Mariners fans should be cautiously optimistic that Zduriencik has his team headed upward in the American League.